Salk: Life through a microscope

Plants with two shoots are produced when genes from the shoot, the above-ground portion of the plant, are driven into the embryonicroot. A plant's shoot system is responsible for all the above-ground portions of the plant, such as leaves, branches and flowers, and is the site of photosynthesis.

Plants with two shoots are produced when genes from the shoot, the above-ground portion of the plant, are driven into the embryonicroot. A plant's shoot system is responsible for all the above-ground portions of the plant, such as leaves, branches and flowers, and is the site of photosynthesis. (Jeffrey A. Long/Salk Institute's Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory)

An embryonic stem cell cluster (red and blue) being coaxed to differentiate into nerves (green). The nerves grow radially and express the characteristics of nerves that control movement in vertebrates. The red and blue areas are indicative of specific cell proteins that are present only in stem cells. The implication is that researchers have gained significant insight into the chemical and genetic underpinnings of nerve development from naive cell types (stem cells).

An embryonic stem cell cluster (red and blue) being coaxed to differentiate into nerves (green). The nerves grow radially and express the characteristics of nerves that control movement in vertebrates. The red and blue areas are indicative of specific cell proteins that are present only in stem cells. The implication is that researchers have gained significant insight into the chemical and genetic underpinnings of nerve development from naive cell types (stem cells). (Samuel Pfaff/Salk Institute)